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dynamic range -the good and bad?

so dynamic range in a given recording is limited by many factors,correct? And I have read many many threads that make dynamic range sound very ideal, correct? ok, that said, I thought I had a decent surround sys setup, marantz reciever and enegry take speakers. Assumed I had good dynamic range, and maybe I do. But I just set up my new 2 channel (extremly modest) system. Threw is some classical and now I notice something I havent before. The soft passages are queit so i turn it up and the louder passages are to loud!!! Is this normal? Guess it could be my room, the cd, or equipment but is this a common problem?
glowplug
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,915 posts
 
Use of compression will vary from recording to recording. In general, more extreme use of compression is more common in rock/pop CD recordings.

If you have not been to a live symphonic concert recently, go to one if you can as a reference. It can be an ear opening experience.

Very old recordings newly mastered to CD should not sound "scratchy" under good operating conditions. Many actually sound very good, often better than ever, when properly mastered to CD.

glowplug OP
37 posts
 
well by scratchy i was thinking the classical disc had a hiss to it on some tracks, scratchy to me really would be some of the horn work on kind of blue!!!!!
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,915 posts
 
Hiss on some older recordings is not uncommon.

Never heard a recording that was inherently scratchy though. When something sounds "scratchy", there's usually another reason....something not going quite right during playback.

There are various masterings to CD of Kind Of Blue. I have a fairly standard issue CD copy from the 90's and it sounds outstanding overall. There is some hiss, but otherwise its like the ensemble is playing live in my room. Definitely not "scratchy".
glowplug OP
37 posts
 
Ive got a remastered version of kind of blue, on some of the tracks when the horns get really loud and going, they break up, same in my car, through my ss sys, aand my portable with grados! sounds like i need a new version!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gregm
3,396 posts
 
The soft passages are queit so i turn it up and the louder passages are to loud!!! ...is this a common problem?
Unless you're joking (which is fine), this is what's called wide "dynamic range"; i.e. the distance between the quiet and the loud passages.

That's a solution -- not a problem! That's what music is like: sometimes loud sometimes not.
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